Host city Leicester Athletes participating 2,422 Opening ceremony 25 July 2009 | Nations participating 19 regional teams Events in 21 sports Closing ceremony 31 July 2009 | |
The 8th Special Olympics Great Britain National Games were held in Leicester between the 25 and 31 July 2009.
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Athletes and volunteers
Over 2,400 athletes representing 19 Special Olympics regions across the UK have visited the city of Leicester over the seven-day period along with 1,200 coaches and 1,500 volunteers.
2,422 athletes competed in 21 Olympic style competitions across the city. The city of Leicester have also recruited about 1,500 volunteers to participate in the Games.
Leicester's landscape has changed dramatically since the city first hosted the Games in 1989. From the rich diversity of its population, to the magnificent ongoing 3 billion regeneration programme, Leicester was a city rising to the challenge on many fronts.
A host of celebrities have already offered up their support to the Games next year including Martin Johnson, Gary Lineker, Leicester Tigers, Leicester City FC, and Leicestershire CCC.
Sports and venues
Sailing was held at Rutland Sailing Centre and Kayaking have taken place at the Anglian Water Site. Leicestershire County Cricket Club were used for Kwik Cricket. Walkers Stadium, home of Leicester City Football Club, was also used for the Opening Ceremony and the Games Village. There are some of the sporting venues hosted the 2009 Games, including Abbey Park (cycling), New College Leicester (gymnastics), Hollywood Bowl (ten pin bowling) and Saffron Lane Sports Centre (athletics).